THORARINN GUDNI SIGVALDASON

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THORARINN GUDNI SIGVALDASON On April 14, 2002, Thorarinn Gudni Sigvaldason passed away peacefully at the St. Boniface Hospital. Gudni was born on July 16, 1910 in Churchbridge, SK as the first of 16 children to Bjorn Ingvar and Gudjona Lara Sigvaldason. He moved with his parents as an infant and grew up in Vidir and Arborg, MB. After attending school in Vidir and Arborg, Gudni worked at farming with the older siblings and spent two winters commercial winter fishing. In 1933, he had an opportunity to participate for one year at the University of Manitoba in the Agriculture Diploma Program. Gudni and Adalbjorg (Bogga), his loving wife for 63 years, farmed at Alfheimar in the Framnes district (near Arborg) from 1936 to 1983, and subsequently retired to Arborg. Gudni and Bogga will be especially remembered as a mutually supporting couple who managed their responsibilities well and served as true role models to their family. Gudni lived a full life and had a strong sense of community. He was a long-standing member of the Boards of North Star Creamery, Arborg Credit Union, Vestri School and Arborg Historical Society. He participated in preparation of a comprehensive history of the Arborg District for the book "A Century Unfolds". He and Bogga were lifetime members of the Arborg Curling Club. Both of them shared a great source of pride in their Icelandic heritage and were active supporters of the Icelandic language and culture. Both were honored by Esja, the local chapter as lifetime members of the Icelandic National League. Gudni felt particularly grateful to tour Iceland with family in the final summer of his life. Gudni will be remembered as a hard working, well organized and successful farmer. With Bogga, they maintained a beautiful homestead, with park-like surroundings. He conducted himself with integrity, generosity and quiet humility. Gudni loved to exchange stories about people and events, often with great humor. In later years, he especially enjoyed the camaraderie of "Senate" partners, dedicated to creatively resolving all the worlds most pressing problems! Gudni was predeceased by his parents; wife Adalbjorg; daughter Hulda Signy Heid; brothers, Bjorn, Ingvar, Jonas and Gunnar; sister Laura Magnusson; brothers-in-law, Gunnar Simundson, Kristjan Thorarinson, Thorkell Johannson, Franklin Wilson, Gudmundur Magnusson, Albert Magnusson, Emil Wilson and Geiri Sigurdson; and special cousin, Kristjan Sigvaldason. Gudni leaves a lifetime of special memories to be cherished by his son Oskar Thor (Giancarla Criveller) daughter Ingunn Alda (Don Herman) grandson Thor (Maria Sarraf) granddaughters, Denise (Gary Fong) and Leslie (John Tuer) Thorunn and Karen Petursdottir; great-grandchildren, Cody, Jennifer and Alexander Fong, Heather, Thor and Michael Tuer; by ten sisters and brothers, Inga (Richard) Rothe, Anna Thorarinson, Gudrun Johannson, Kristiana (Alder) Magnusson Clark, Thordis Wilson, Valdine (Neville) Prentice, Olof Sigurdson, Einar (Alda) Sigvaldason, Beatrice Sigvaldason and Margaret (Eric) Rasmussen; sisters-in-law, Lillo Johnson, Sigga and Helen Sigvaldason. There are also many nieces and nephews as well as special friends; Petur and Agusta Thorvaldsson, Peder and Debbie Jensen (Sarah and Eva), and Thor and Marilynne Johannson. At Gudnis request, cremation has taken place. There will be a graveside remembrance at the Arborg Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2002, followed by refreshments at the Arborg Community Hall. The family wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Paul Daeninck and to the skilled, kind and compassionate staff at the Palliative Care Unit of the St. Boniface Hospital, as well as staff at the Arborg District Hospital. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an endowment in Gudnis name to the Cancer / Pallative Care Unit, St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, 409 Tache Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 or to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7 Allara besta, godi min Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Home, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 20, 2002